Jake's first swimming lesson

Today was Jake's first swimming lesson - and we were late as usual. HOWEVER we were only a few minutes late so didn't miss any of the lesson. He wasn't too happy initially, but was like that at the beach the other day, but soon settled in and was having a grand old time.

We splashed and floated on his back, went through a tunnel, floated on a pool noodle and rode it like a horsey - it was great fun!

I unfortunately had to wear a daggy old black one piece that I used to wear 5 years ago to my deep water aqua classes bcos all of my other swimmers are bikinis, and within those bikinis none of them fit properly bcos I have lost weight since having Jake (thank you breastfeeding). Added to that Jake has started in the past few weeks pulling my tops down and helping himself to a feed... so a baggy bikini top could well have spelt disaster.

Oh and he has a great new snack he has discovered - kitty litter! Yep add that to his other favourite snack of cat food and he is having a balanced diet!

Father's Day 2007 (better late post than never)

Darren's first Father's day started at the usual time of 5.45am with Jake calling us to come and get him. It is so cute, but when it started even earlier it loses it's attraction!

Jake gave his Daddy a special mouse pad with a picture of him and mummy on it and a cool mug that said " Best Daddy" or something just as kitschy! Lucky Darren got to open it at the lovely time of 6am and after Jake had his morning breastfeed in bed then we all read and played in bed together for an hour.

After breakfast Jake had anap and we packed a yummy picnic to take to Roma Street Parklands in the city. We are lucky to have 2 great green spaces in Brisbane CBD there is Southbank Parklands and the Roma Street Parklands. Southbank is much busier and more commercial with a beach, pool, restaurants etc whereas Roma Street is basically just a beautiful series of parks and spaces with a small restaurant in the corner.

So we packed the car and took blankets and toys as well as a great picnic and hit the road. It is only a 15 minute drive from our place but still we had to hit the road to get there... too much paraphernalia for public transport.

The weather was perfect for the first weekend of spring, and the park was literally emerald green after a week of rain. An oasis in the middle of a parched city. Jake wasn't too sure of the grass at first but soon overcame his fears and was crawling and "walking" around soon enough.

Silly mummy managed to get her shoulders sunburnt but Jake was smothered in sunscreen so there was not too much risk of him getting burnt. But we had a ball playing and all crashed for a family nap when we got home.

Here are our pics

First day at the beach this summer!

Today Jake and I ventured to Caloundra to visit my best ffriend Sherrie and her *husband* (they only got married on Saturday) Alec at their family unit.

It started out a cold rainy day but soon cleared to yet another great Queensland spring day. Unfortunately I forgot the swimming bag and I had to borrow one of Sherrie's bikinis and Jake went nude bottom and a t-shirt. There are no photos bcos I borrowed the bikini, it was a little small and when asked if I wanted the camera I said no!

So we had lunch and Jake was quite happy to play with the pegs and the peg bucket, he had some lunch, Sher made some great sandwiches and we headed to the beach.

Jake had a ball - at first he was a bit hesitant with all that water but he was soon playing and splashing around in the shallows with us. He had a peg bucket and a pair of salad servers to dig with and was as happy as a pig in poo.

After an hour or so we headed back in and had some afternoon tea before heading back home. Needless to say Jake was asleep before we even go to the end of the street!

almost walking...

It's funny when you are a first time mum... you really want your baby to hurry up and do stuff - smile, roll over, roll back, sit up, crawl.... and the list goes on. And that was me too. I always said that I didn't want to be a competitive mum, and I hope I'm not overly bad, but there is a little part of you that can't help but want your baby to do stuff and do it now.

HOWEVER!!!! Suddenly I am wishing that my baby would sit still, that I could have a moment without him attached to my leg, and now I wish I could walk somewhere on my own without being doubled over and helping a little person keep his balance. I want him just to stop that part of his development just for a month or so, just let me keep a bit of my sanity please! He is 10 months next Saturday and he is way too young to be walking - surely!!!!!!!



Jake is so interested in everything you do now and he wants to be in there and helping you. Even simple things like trimming his finger nails is a game that he wants to play and those sharp silver things (the nail clippers) are apparently really good to stick in your mouth!?!?!?!



He loves to stand up over you and is getting better and better every day at standing on his own. Jake the Giant is what he looks like as he looms over you if we're on the floor. His balance is really good and his coordination is amazing - he is kicking the ball when he walks up to it. Not just nudging it with his foot but full on kicking it! Look out Becks!

*tired*

Poor little sausage boy has an ear infection and a perforated ear drum... needless to say life has not been fun lately... sleepless nights are no fun but at least it is the weekend and Darren is home to help. As a family I think we all had about 4 or 5 hours sleep total and took Jake to the doctor this morning. I think I should have shares in my local medical centre we are there so often!



It is funny how quickly these come on though - on Thursday he was happily playing with his little friend Caleb emptying my plastic drawer!

He is growing up so quickly and learning so much from Caleb who is 13 months.



They get together and you can see Jake's brain ticking over thinking "now can I do that?". I think the only reason is he wanting to walk is so he can keep up with Caleb and chase him around the house more easily!

August and we are up to date!

August so far has been a big month! Jake has started crawling like he is chasing a bus, and sometimes it is hard to catch him, is standing up, and this week has started walking holding onto our hands. Wow... how quickly they grow up!





He has also expanded his vocabulary to include mumum, dada, nana, mmmg (millie girl) and many other "words".
Jake has developed a funny little three - legged crawl which I think is a precursor to standing because when he gets close to something to pull himself up on, it's that leg he stands on first.




Jake's favourite past time is the junk mail. He and Daddy will sit on the front verandah in the sun and "read" all of the catalogues and brochures that get delivered. It is particularly lovely out the front on the cooler mornings because the sun warms up that front area first thing and it's sheltered from most of the winds.





Poor Daggles struggles to watch TV in peace - as soon as Jake sees the remote or hears the TV switch on, he is after that remote and it belongs to him.... he knows the control of the remote is the ultimate power!!

Daggles even brought one home for him so he could have his own, but Jakey knows that it isn't the real one and will dump it as soon as he even catches a glimpse of the real one.

July brought Josie

Welcome Josephine Ellen Mai-Tsin Wong... my gorgeous little niece.

Josie was born on her due date the 4th of July at 23:02 after a 7 hour labour at the SAN Hospital in Sydney. She was 7lb15oz and a healthy 48cm long with a head circumference of 36cm.

I think she is just beautiful!

Darren looked after Jake for a day and flew me to Sydney to meet her and give Dee a hug... very extravagant but well worth it!